A Reminder...

My current Artist's Way journey is already bearing fruit...

When I was about 9 or so (circa 1977), I took my first art classes. I loved, loved, loved Snoopy and would recreate every Shultz cartoon I could lay my hands on, so my parents signed me up for classes with a cartoonist named Ralph Kanna.

Kanna had written the strip “Stern Wheeler,” which was published in 1963 in the Hartford Courant and gave Paul Aparo his start in comics. Aparo would later go on to DC Comics/Batman fame. Kanna stayed local in CT and did a weekly Saturday Morning TV show called "Mud Poodle" where he would draw adventures while we all watched. He also gave classes downtown. I loved those classes.

The recent news story of a man being fired reminded me of how much I loved these classes and got me digging in my cartoon books. Wouldn't you know I found my original profile cartoon ideas from those classes! It was very safe for me to do my art at that time. No one gave it a second thought. I was allowed to love it and draw and not one negative word was said. No one cared about how I would make a living yet or even if I was good. It only mattered that I was happy and having fun.

I think I will be cartooning for my artists date this week...

"Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep." Scott Adams, Dilbert cartoonist

Associated Press
DES MOINES, Iowa - A judge has sided with a casino worker who was fired for posting on an office bulletin board a "Dilbert" comic strip that made fun of his managers.
David Steward was fired from the Catfish Bend Casino because management found the cartoon "very offensive," human-resources director Steve Morley testified at a recent unemployment-benefits hearing. The casino had challenged his claim for unemployment benefits.
"Basically, he was accusing the decision-makers of being drunken lemurs," Morley testified. "We consider that misconduct when you insult your employer."
According to state records, Steward posted the comic in late October, shortly after officials announced that the casino in Burlington would be closed.
Dilbert appears in the Daily News. In the strip in question, Dilbert and another character are shown having the following exchange:
"Why does it seem as if most of the decisions in my workplace are made by drunken lemurs?"
"Decisions are made by people who have time, not people who have talent."
"Why are talented people so busy?"
"They're fixing the problems made by people who have time."
Steward testified that he posted the comic partly because of the impending layoffs.
"I thought maybe it would cheer some people up," he said. "I found it humorous."
Administrative Law Judge Lynette Donner sided with Steward, ruling it was "a good-faith error in judgment," not intentional misbehavior.
"Dilbert" creator Scott Adams said it might have been the first confirmed instance of a worker being fired for posting a "Dilbert" strip in a workplace. *

SCOTT ADAMS HAS RESPONDED IN A NEW STRIP
at www.dilbert.com/

Simple Joys

Friends, food, a meeting and a comedy show all in the fellowship hall of a local church.

I couldn't have had a better time if I had been at a 5 star restaurant followed by a Broadway show.

It is the energy of a time and place which effects me. A friend who glances up and sees me and squeals with delight. A room full of people appreciating the comedy of a friend who is too often on the road bringing smiles to others. People enjoying the moments and each other. It was infectious last night.

and the greatest treat?

...a gluten-free cake since I am allergic to wheat. sigh. It doesn't get any better.

Gimpy Grace and her computer

Ok, so I sprained....

my instep.

My instep?

I have never heard of such a thing. It makes me smile each time I hear it. How ridiculous. How totally something "Grace" would do. 

So I have been hobbled and actually so is my computer also. The virus my daughter downloaded has won. I am going to have to break down and go have it fixed professionally. I can tell. Grrrr. 

Her only salvation is there are 3 computers in the house and I can occasionally get on one of the others.

Play Day

I have so much to do that I decided I needed a play break first. I had so many grand plans. Instead I got to wake up and find out my daughter had completely inundated my computer with spyware playing on myspace last night. I am furious. It still isn't gone. We'll see if I can get it gone myself. Ugh.

EXACTLY what I needed

I haven't blogged twice in one day in well... well I don't know how long.

Sigh. Smile. Wow.

My easel is back up in my studio and I sat there for 15 minutes having bursts of ideas of all the possible things I could do with that blank canvas sitting there. I am so relieved. There was a point a year ago I wasn't sure I would ever create again.

Why do I always forget that there is a season to everything in life?

God has taught and retaught me this lesson so often I should have it etched in my soul. Nope. My built in forgetter is stronger.

The only wondrous thing about a season of grief for me is the re-awakening. The sights all around me are new again, the colors of the trees, the bright sunlight, the sounds of a Florida thunderstorm, all are wondrous again.

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you...

Julia Cameron "The Artists Way"

I first found this book in my early 20's. It was a wonder for my soul. It introduced a few tools to my creative life that I have found essential over the years and that I have continued. One tool is called Morning Pages. For three handwritten pages you write a stream of consciousness. In essence you throw out anything on your mind without editing. The second tool I have continued is called Artists Dates. You take your inner artist out to play. Inner child, inner artist, playful side, creative soul... I don't care what you label that spark within us all that screams to play. Once a week you consciously make time where playing is an end in itself.

Recently I found a group that will be reading and working through the entire book together starting the beginning of February. I am excited to revisit the path again and see what tools stick in my 39 year old mind compared to 18 years ago when I first worked through this book.

On another note, my youngest daughter has moved home, finished her GED and starts classes for medical lab assisting January 22nd. I am so proud of her. If anyone had the roughest time after my son's suicide it was her. Plus, she is doing all this while working 30 hours a week.

It is difficult at times to not ponder, "What lessons did my daughter learn that my son didn't?" Yeah, yeah, I know, a useless exercise. My mind will still try to answer these things though. I keep reminding myself that the disease of addiction knows no boundaries and when a person is active in their addiction it takes over everything. Intellectually I know this is the truth. I lived it. It is harder as a Mom. It doesn't help that my Grandmother, my last Grandparent died last month. It reminds me the generations are turning, the wheel always moves. My parents are both retired now and I am a Grandmother myself. Life continues on.

It is interesting to step back and observe myself lately. I am so alone in the middle of a crowd. Most only know one aspect of my life, on a rare occasion two. I even had my sister tell me she doesn't know who I am. She is 10 years younger than I am and lives 1200 miles away. It made me sad. I may start writing about what is important to me for her...

Freedom

I loved my first blog. I was writing almost every day with complete freedom.

Then...

I started to make friends. Now let me tell you we all need friends. Friends are important in this world. I, however, place high expectations on myself when I call someone friend. So what was a joyful place where I could stretch my writing wings morphed into a place where I felt I was expected to do certain things. Write on certain subjects on certain days. Respond cheerfully. Sound witty. Spell check. Not grieve as much or as long as I needed over certain losses. It became another responsibility in my mind.

Here, I will write just for me. Free.